ho had taken compassion on my sufferings, my heart
for an instant felt light and happy; but as death was near thee, very
near, the Good Spirit whispered his wishes, and I have saved thee for
happiness. It is I who must die! I am nothing, have no friends, no one
to care for me, to love me, to make pleasant in the lodge the dull hours
of night. Chief, farewell!"

He was going, but the chief grasped him firmly by the arm,--

"Where dost thou wish to go? Dost thou know the love of a brother? Didst
thou ever dream of one? I have said we must be brothers to each other.
Come to the wigwam."

They returned to the village in silence, and when they arrived before
the door of the council lodge, the chief summoned everybody to hear what
he had to communicate, and ordered the parents to bring the young girl.

"Flower of the magnolia," said he, taking her by the hand, "wilt thou
love me less as a brother than as a husband? Speak! Whisper thy thought
to me! Didst thou ever dream of another voice than mine, a younger one,
breathing of love and despair?"

Then leading the girl to where the young warrior stood,--

"Brother," said he, "take thy wife and my sister."

Turning towards the elders, the chief extended his right arm, so as to
invite general attention.

"I have called you," said he, "that an act of justice may be performed.
Hear my words:--

"A young antelope loved a lily, standing under the shade of a sycamore,
by the side of a cool stream. Dally he came to watch it as it grew
whiter and more beautiful. He loved it very much, till one day a large
bull came and picked up the lily. Was it good? No! The poor antelope
fled towards the mountains, never wishing to return any more under the
cool shade of the sycamore. One day he met the bull down, and about to
be killed by a big bear. He saved him. He heard only the whisper of his
heart. He saved the bull, although the bull had taken away the pretty
lily from where it stood, by the cool stream. It was good, it was well!
The bull said to the antelope, 'We shall be brothers, in joy and in
sorrow!' and the antelope said there could be no joy for him since the
lily was gone. The bull considered. He thought that a brother ought to
make great sacrifices for a brother, and he said to the antelope,
'Behold, there is the lily, take it before it droops away. Wear it in
thy bosom and be happy.' Chiefs, sages, and warriors, I am the bull:
behold my brother the antelope. I have given unto